Automatic safety lighting system



NOV. 39, 1937. w, LACKEY 2,109,6Q5

AUTOMAT IC SAFETY LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mean Inventor Attorney Nov. 30, 1937. J. w-LAcKEY AUTOMATIC SAFETY LIGHTING SYSTEM I Filed Aug. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Ja/m Zagy a Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY LIGHTING SYSTEM John William Lackey, North Creek, N. Y."

Application August 15, 1934, Serial No. '139,999

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic safety lighting systems, the same being an improvement on my co-pending application Serial No. 693,033, now abandoned.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and expeditious system of lighting automobiles and other vehicles wherein the lamps of the vehicle are equipped with multiple filament bulbs and connected up in such a manner in the system so that in the event one filament of a bulb or its circuit becomes disrupted, the other, or another, will be immediately out into service.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system for vehicles which will serve to put the driver on notice that certain filaments of his multiple-filament bulbs are burned out, or their circuits are disrupted when such is a fact. I

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a system of the character stated which will be substantially fool-proof in opera-'-' tion.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the type of system employing the auxiliary filament in the right headlight bulb.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connection between the electrical devices involved in conjunction with the pilot light.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the form of relay employed.

Figure 41s a front elevational view of the pilot light box.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it will be seen that a description of the simplified form of the inven-' tion shown in Fig. 2 will vary but slightly from v the system shown in Figure 1, the only distinction being in the accommodation of the auxiliary filament in the right headlight bulb (see Figure -1) which is employed in some makes of vehicles to cause the right headlight to be deflected toward the right or roadside;

In considering Figure 2, it can be seen that the numeral 5 designates the source of current from which the lead 6 extends to the light switch 1. A

lead 8 also extends. to the stop light switch 9 and from there a jumper l0 extends to the armature H 'of the relay E. A wire I! extends to the common conductor ll while another conductor l4 has to one end of the coil of the relay C.

the relay F being connected to the bulb B9 of the 10 the high beam switch i5 interposed between the same and the wire 12. One end of the conductor i4 connects to one end of the coil of the relay A, whfle the other end of the conductor it connects The conductor l3 at one end connects to the contact it and at its opposite end to the armature I! of the relay F and also at l8 to one end of the coil of the relay F, the opposite end of the coil of usual tail light.

Ashort jumper 2b is seen in Figure 2, to connect the conductor l3 with the contact 2| which is engageable by the armature 22 of the relay C. This armature 22 is conected to the armature 23 of the relay D besides connecting to one side of the coil of the relay D, while the opposite side of the coil is connected by the conductor 24 to the'low beam filament 25 of the right headlight bulb 26. The high beam filament 21 of the bulb 26 is connected by the jumper 28 to the remaining side of the coil of the relay C.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that one side ofthe coil of the relay E is connected as at 29 low filament is connected at at 36 to one side' of the coil of the relay B. A connection 31 be-' tween the armature 38 and 39 of the relays A and B, respectively, is also connected at at 40 to the remaining side of the coil of the relay B.

It will be observed at the relay B that the armature 39 operates between a pair of contacts 4| 'and 42, the contact 4| being connected to the red indicating signal 43 while the contact 42 is connected to the caution or amber indicating sig- 40 nal bulb 44.

The armature 23 of the relay D operates between the contacts 45 and 46 which are connected respectively to the red or danger signal 41 and caution signal 48. 45

The armature ll of the relay E is in engage-, ment with the contact 49 when attracted by the. coil of the relay E, this armature ll being connected with the conductor 10 from the stop switch 9 while the contact 49 is connected to the green or pilot signal bulb 50.

The red signal bulb 5! is connected to the contact 52 against which the armature II of "the relay F is engageable when the coil of the relay is It can be now seen that when the light switch I is closed, current will flow to the conductor l4 (if the high beam Ii is closed) and will energize both relays A and C, maintaining the armatures 38 and 22 spaced from the contacts l6 and 2|, respectively, and at the same time maintaining the high beam filaments and 21 energized.

In the event there is a disruption of the circuit in either bulb, current will fiow directly from the conductor l2 and as the armature 28 or 22 has returned to engage the contact It or 2| respectively current will fiow into the coil of the relay B or D, attracting the armature 29 or 23, respectively to engage the contact 42 or 46, respectively, and at the same time energize the low beam filament 35 or 25 of the right orleft headlight bulb, whichever one may be disrupted, leaving the remaining bulb unchanged.

As the contact 42 or 46 is engaged, current is supplied to the caution or amber colored signal 44 or 48, respectively. Thus a caution warning is given to the driver that one or more filaments of his headlight bulbs or the circuits are disrupted.

In the event thestoplight bulb 3| burns out or its circuit is disrupted the coil of the relay E will deenergize and result in the extinguishing of the green pilot lamp 50 indicating to the driver that his stoplight bulb is burned out, or its circuit is disrupted when the stoplight switch is closed by pushing down brake pedal.

In the event the tail light l9 becomes disrupted, the coil of the relay F will de-energize and permit the armature II to engage the contact 52 and supply current to the bulb which is red signal indicating the existence of a bad tail light bulb, or the disruption of its circuit. All circuits are adequately fused as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 1 is quite similar to that shown in Figure 2 with the addition of an auxiliary switch in the high beam switch box IE or separately located which will be designated as switch lia, along with an auxiliary filament 26w for the right headlight bulb 26. In conjunction with the auxiliary filament 26a and the switch l5a is the auxiliary relay X which is equipped with the armature 60 operating between thecontacts GI and 62. The contact Si is connected to the auxiliary caution lamp 63, while the contact 62 is connected to one side of the coil of the relay D and also to its armature 23. It can now be seen that in order to energize the auxiliary filament 2611, the switch I50, must be closed, in which instance current flows from the conductor I3 to the arma-,

ture 22 of the relay C and from there through the switch l5a and back along the conductor 64 to one side of the coil of the relay X while the other side of the coil is connected directly to the filamen 26a which is the auxiliary filament and, as before stated, is used on some automobiles so as to somewhat deflect the light of the right headlight toward the roadside.

Whenthis relay is de-energized, current simply passes from. the armature 22-to the armature 60 and from there through the contact 62 to the relay, D and through its coil to the low beam filament 25 of the right headlight bulb 26.

Otherwise, the operation of the system in Figure 1 is identical with the operation of the tern shown in Figure 2 and hereinbefore let forth.

Figure 3 shows the type of relay employed which consists of a suitable base 65 having an upright 68 from which extends the contact arm l'l overlying the coil 24 which is upstanding .cn

the base as. A post as is also provided on'the' base 65 and hasv an armature II rockably supported at the top thereof. A suitable weight II can be provided on theouter end of the armature III to properly balance armature in center of its weight 14, when spring 12 is not connected v due to the vibration of the vehicle upon which it is used. An ordinary relay in most cases would be impractical for use in connection with these systems.

It will be observed in Figure 4 that a box 13 is employed for containing the bulbs 43, 44, 4'1, 48, 50 and 5|; this box having slits punched through the front thereof to define arrow shaped windows backed by colored isinglass or a glass of some other character through which light from the bulbs is visible. These windows are designated by character references 44', 43', 41',

' 48, 50' and 5| correspondingly placed in front of the signal bulbs 43, 44, 41, 48, 50 and 5|.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood thatnumerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

I claim:

In combination with a bulb having a high and a low beam filament, a source of current, a relay including a coil and an armature, a dimmer switch, a connection from the battery to one side of the relay coil and havingthe dimmer switch therein, a connection between the other side of the coil and the high filament, a back contact adjacent the armature connected to the battery connection on the battery side of the dimmer switch, a second relay including a. coil and armature, the first-mentioned armature being connected to-the second-mentioned armature and 'to one side of the second-mentioned coil, a connection between the remaining side of the second-mentioned coil and the low filament, a pair of stationary contacts between which the second-mentioned armature operates, and against one of which contacts said second-mentioned armature normally engages, a "caution and a danger" bulb, the "danger bulb being connected to the last-mentioned contact, while the caution' bulb is connected to the remainin of the last two mentioned contacts.

JOHN WILLIAM LACKEY. 

